Local Beaches Have Received None of the $58 million in BP Marketing Funds

BRADENTON – BP has made frequent mention of the $58 million it has given to Florida to run ads promoting tourism, which has been badly hampered by the spill in the gulf. Not having seen or heard of any efforts to promote our local beaches, I set out to find out where that money was being spent. Manatee County beaches remain open and oil free, and have yet to suffer any closures or restrictions on fishing.

Scientific research on probable paths of the oil slick's movement have consistently placed our local shores as the most fortuitous, as weather patterns and currents have thus far blessed us with clean shorelines. Hoteliers and resort operators have, however, reported noticeable drops in reservations, as well as anxiety driven cancellations from those worried about oil disrupting their beach vacations.

As such, it seems obvious to me that our local area would be a perfect candidate for a massive state-funded advertising blitz, aimed at correcting the public perception. When people hear and read headlines shouting "oil hits Florida," it is less likely they are grabbing a map to find the right spot, and more likely that they are looking to book a holiday someplace else.

Florida CFO and Gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink has set up a website to show how that money is being distributed and a review of it offers some peculiar insight. Of the $58 million, only $16.67 had been spent as of Monday. $5 million went through the Governor's office for the establishment of a finance corporation that would administer emergency loans to small businesses impacted by the spill. The other $11.67 million has gone through the Department of Community Affairs, but almost exclusively to panhandle communities or statewide marketing efforts.

A breakdown of those expenditures read as follows:

FRANKLIN COUNTY TDC– $252,350.00

PANAMA CITY BEACH CONVENTION BOARD– $1,133,297.50

SANTA ROSA COUNTY TDC – $500,000.00

WAKULLA COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – $25,000.00

WALTON COUNTY TDC – $1,350,000.00  

EMERALD COAST CONVENTION & TOURISM  BOARD– $375,000.00

ESCAMBIA COUNTY – $700,000.00

FLORIDA COMMISSION ON COMMUNITY SERVICE – $100,000.00

FLORIDA TOURISM INDUSTRY MARKETING – $7,150,000.00

GULF COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – $75,250.00

While I understand having spent money in the area most likely to be first hit, it would seem elementary to also pour money into gulf-side locations, most likely to benefit throughout the summer from a clear and loud message that our beaches are clean, beautiful and open for business. Like I said, right now Manatee beaches are problem free, while the panhandle is suffering crippling effects from the spill.

Governor Crist has pledged to spend money in Miami Beach, but like the panhandle a few weeks ago, they are largely seen as vulnerable in the near term because of the Loop Current, so one must ask whether such advertisements are likely to yield much success. Governor Crist, if you're listening, get the cameras down to Manatee County and start rolling the commercials. We may well be your best bet.